§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has as to the average level of Government subsidy per tonne of deep-mined coal each year since 1987 in each European Economic Community country and in the United States of America.
§ Mr. BaldryI refer the hon. Member to my predecessor's answer of 23 March 1989, at columns764–65, to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Dr. Thomas), which gave the European Commission's estimates of the subsidy per tonne in coal-producing member states for the years 1985 to 1987. The equivalent figures for 1988 have not yet been published by the Commission.
The United States of America does not provide financial support to its coal industry.